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White_Peony
Guest
Is this right? I know it’s not “worshipping” but it’s still a statue. Even in veneration. I really don’t think this is right. Statues cannot help, only God.
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Nate13
Guest
Statues can help us set our sights on God. Better to be looking at a statue when we are praying rather then the hot gal or guy in the front of Church haha.
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LilyM
Guest
Statues help as a focus of our prayers in that they help us focus our thoughts on Jesus, Mary or the other saints. So they do something - not that they grant our prayers, not that the statues are special in and of themselves (unless they are blessed, of course).
In a similar way looking at a photo of your last family reunion can help you focus your thoughts on second cousin Joe or great aunt Ethel, who, let’s face it, you might not think about all that much in your day-to-day life otherwise.
In a similar way looking at a photo of your last family reunion can help you focus your thoughts on second cousin Joe or great aunt Ethel, who, let’s face it, you might not think about all that much in your day-to-day life otherwise.
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Karen1960
Guest
Only God can help, as others pray to God for our help, be they our friend here on earth or saints in heaven
A statue of course can not help you. They are a rememberance of the person they represent. That said, you don’t need a statue to pray to Our Blessed Mother. But their is nothing wrong with saying prayers in front of the statue or without one, as it is the prayers in your heart, not the statue or picture in front of you that matters.
You might have photos of long dead relatives, their pictures don’t help you or you help them for that matter, but when you see a picture of old Uncle Joe, you are “reminded” to say a prayer for his soul.
It is not the object that helps, but what it represents.
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White_Peony
Guest
Haha, funny! But the thing is I heard from a person who visited Rome where like kissing the feet of a statue of St. Peter and stuff. Weird…
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Nate13
Guest
haha well think of the Wailing Wall and what it represents to Jews? Such things can have meaning for us because of what they stand for. We have the Mass where we venerate the cross by either putting a hand on the cross in Church or kissing the cross. It is a sign of respect and love for Jesus and what he did for us, and has nothing to do with the modern wooden cross that we are kissing. You also must note that God chooses to work through certain people or things by his own choice. Our Christian lives are filled with go between’s starting with the Bible. Why can’t God just tell us the good news from his own mouth if he is God? Why do he choose to use the apostle’s to spread the Word?
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
St. Peter was privileged to walk and talk with the Lord in the flesh. If you had the chance to meet St. Peter, would you not want to touch the hands which touched Jesus? I know I would. . .
IOW, St. Peter is so important to us not because of his being a man named Simon Bar Jonah, but because this man loved and was loved by Christ --walked and talked with Him, ate and drank with Him, cried for Him, and was given --by Christ–the leadership of all IN HIS NAME–was given the care of all Christians on earth as the vicar for Christ on earth --he is important because CHRIST is so important.
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Sometimes I wonder if some who complain about Catholics being ‘over the top’ just do so because their worship is so. . .um, well smal isn’t really the word I was looking for. Maybe “Narrow”? It’s like somebody who is making a huge fuss about the wonderful marvelous cake that they’ve been baking, and fixing, and now eating… . .while ignoring the fact that besides the cake they’ve been working on, dozens of other people have been working on a 12 course banquet alongside.
Sure the cake is good and worthwhile and has a proper place. . .but it’s not complete. If that person had stuffed himself with cake and was approached by somebody offering him a plate with meat and veggies and a soup, he’d probably think, “I’m already full, these people are going overboard with ALL THIS STUFF. Why don’t they just eat cake, like me?”
Sure the cake is good and worthwhile and has a proper place. . .but it’s not complete. If that person had stuffed himself with cake and was approached by somebody offering him a plate with meat and veggies and a soup, he’d probably think, “I’m already full, these people are going overboard with ALL THIS STUFF. Why don’t they just eat cake, like me?”
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Nate13
Guest
I think its just more from overlooking the fact that despite the fact that God doesn’t need us he chooses to use us to display his power. It is the rare occasion that you see the direct God to man physical contact outside of the works of Jesus in the Bible. So while in practice it sounds great to just say all I need is God, it denies the fact that God himself has chosen to manifest his power through other people and objects. I mean could we celebrate the mass without a priest?
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Della
Guest
When I was a diehard anti-Catholic I once saw an older lady kissing the feet of a statue of Jesus and it suddenly dawned on me that by doing so she was connecting her heart to the One represented by that statue. It was her way of putting “flesh and bones” on “him whom you love although you have not seen him”. Statues of saints and Our Lord lift our hearts and souls to those depicted and so to union with God. The prohibitions against making statues in the OT were those of false gods, such as bulls or bird-men or other such deities worshiped by pagans. But since the Incarnation, God has a face we can see and his saints in heaven are his holy army who aid us while we fight the good fight here on earth. Now I have statues and/or paintings of Jesus and the saints in every room of my house because I want reminders of those who my true family is and my true eternal home.
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White_Peony
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Sailor_Kenshin
Guest
Do you have pictures of your family anywhere?
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CountrySteve
Guest
hey thank you for your answer i have been struggling with kissing statues too and your answer about putting flesh and bones on “him whom you love although you have not seen him”. makes so much sense God bless you and Holy Theotokos pray for you
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Tarpeian_Rock
Guest
The analogy I like to use is when heads of state go to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington and lay a wreath there, and usually pause and sometimes bow their heads. They’re certainly not worshipping Lincoln, nor are they venerating his statue, but are honoring the memory of a great man and recognizing his wisdom and inspirational value to the country. Just so when a statue of a saint is honored by someone with flowers, a candle, or a reverent position before it. They certainly don’t believe the “Lincoln statue” itself can be of help, rather, Lincoln’s example and heritage.
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Della
Guest
You’re welcome.
It can also be truly said of the Eucharist for in it we receive him under the appearance of ordinary food, of bread and wine. God uses these physical things to come to us–to make the spiritual alive and accessible… In the case of the Eucharist he gives his very self to us, and in the case of statues and pictures, etc. he gives us, through the efforts and talents of artists, visual reminders of him and his love for us.
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Defender1
Guest
They are good to use as visuals . It helps us get deeper in meditation or prayer .
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Sailor_Kenshin
Guest
Why would a CATHOLIC have any problem with statues? I’m sure we’re all aware of the atrocities committed against sacred art by the Iconoclasts.
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